German Cancer Aid Funds €530K Melanoma Recurrence Study
A team led by Prof. Dr. Florian Rambow and Dr. Georg Lodde at the University of Duisburg-Essen is delving into the reasons behind melanoma recurrences, even with supportive immunotherapy. Funded by the German Cancer Aid with €530,000 over two years, the research focuses on high-risk melanoma patients, aiming to enhance treatment effectiveness and patient outcomes.
The team is exploring the hypothesis that the risk of melanoma recurrence is tied to the histological and molecular environment of the primary tumor, or tumor micromilieu. They are conducting high-resolution single-cell analyses on this unique patient group worldwide to test this theory.
The researchers are puzzled by cases where melanoma patients experience a relapse despite supportive immunotherapy. A study revealed that these relapses occurred earlier than previously reported in clinical studies. The goal is to identify new drug targets that can overcome resistance to supportive immunotherapy using PD-1 inhibitors.
The University of Duisburg-Essen's research, led by Prof. Dr. Florian Rambow and Dr. Georg Lodde, seeks to unravel the mystery behind melanoma recurrences even with immunotherapy. By understanding the tumor micromilieu's role, they hope to make melanoma therapy more effective and improve success rates for patients.
